STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Cucumber Sushi owners Sophie Tan and Calvin Yum worked together as servers for three years at a borough Asian-themed restaurant. They dreamed of owning their own place one day.

Now, they are proud to say their pair of places — one in Great Kills and the other in Prince's Bay — are award-winning eateries thanks to your declaring the the "Best Sushi Restaurant" in the Staten Island Readers' Choice Awards.

"Personality-wise, we are really good together — we trusted each other from the beginning," said Ms. Tan, of the partnership. She immigrated to the United States four and a half years ago.

So, the friends became business partners and a year later, Ms. Tan and Yum opened Cucumber at 5834 Amboy Rd. The following winter, they cut the ribbon on a Cucumber at 4215 Hylan Blvd.

STARTING SMALL, DREAMING BIG

For Yum and Ms. Tan, the goal originally was to allow their children to have a good life. Ms. Tan's husband, Billy He, manages the flagship South Shore location, while she hones her food skills in pastry school at International Culinary Education, Manhattan.

"For me, I wanted a flexible job, for the kids," said Ms. Tan about choosing the restaurant life. She has two young ones and a third baby is on the way.

"That was a surprise!" she said about the pregnancy with a laugh. And, equally as surprising, she said, is the restaurant's great honor of winning the "Best Sushi Restaurant" in the Staten Island Readers' Choice contest. She is thrilled that thousands of votes pushed Cucumber to the top of the list.